Abstract

This paper deals with the design, modeling and analysis of a hybrid shock absorber for
vehicle suspension. A specific design of frictional-electromagnetic-regenerative shock absorber is
proposed. The hybrid shock absorber consists of the proposed frictional
-electromagnetic-regenerative shock absorber assembled in parallel with a conventional-viscous
shock absorber. The concept of hybrid shock absorber is proposed due to the following advantages:
the regenerative shock absorber will recover some wasted vibration energy from the suspension into
electrical energy to support the need for electrical energy of the vehicle, while the viscous shock
absorber maintains the performance of suspension closed to its original suspension. The vehicle
suspension system dynamic was mathematically modeled for three different types of
suspension:1).Conventional suspension using viscous shock absorber; 2).Hybrid suspension using
combination of 50% frictional-electromagnetic-regenerative shock absorberand50% viscous shock
absorber; and 3).Full regenerative suspension using 100% frictional-electromagnetic-regenerative
shock absorber. In this research, 6 wheels military vehicle (APC:Armour Personal Carrier) is chosen
as the model due to the high possibility of applying regenerative suspension to the military/off road
vehicle. Based on the mathematical models, performances of the vehicle suspension and the
regenerated power from regenerative shock absorber (RSA) were simulated. The results were compared between the three types of suspension and discussed